Marvel vs. DC: Which One Has a Higher Success Rate?

Comics and superheroes have remained a great source of entertainment for children and adults.

When it comes to the world of comics, the two major names that dominate readers' choices are Marvel and DC.

The iconic superheroes from both universes are popular among Western and Indian audiences.

Beyond comics, the films made on them have been blockbusters over the years. There might be some exceptions, but overall, they get positive feedback from the audience.

However, when it comes to measuring the success rate between the two, it does make a difference. So let us find it today.

DC vs Marvel: Difference in Content

DC and Marvel are both popular comic world platforms. Talking about the former, it began in the 1930s and introduced us to legendary characters, mainly Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

These superheroes became the epitome of justice, fighting evil forces and saving the world from them.

If we concentrate on DC content, it represents a darker and more serious tone in plotting the content of their characters, both heroes and villains.

Marvel, on the other hand, came in the 1960s. It gave us superheroes, including the most popular one, Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, and many others.

Now, in contrast to the story plot of DC characters, the lives of Marvel characters are relatable to our daily lives.

As an example, they deal with the same problems as jobs, relationships, and bashing villains.

This connectivity has worked for Marvel in generating a wider audience for these heroes.

Who Dominates Whom?

When it comes to deciding which is more popular between Marvel and DC, it’s very difficult to judge so easily.

The reason is that both have a million fan base worldwide. If we see more differences between the two franchises, we will notice that DC fans admire the legendary status of its heroes.

In the case of Marvel, fans are more driven towards the characters with humor and modern setups. Their stories are more character-driven.

Comic books, whether DC or Marvel, have received massive success.  In terms of films such as The Dark Knight Returns, they have done good business at the box office.

In terms of films, the ratio of Marvel-centric heroes has found more success with Spider-Man films and Avengers follow-ups.

Where Spider-Man is a solo fighter who fights with multiple villains in every movie, the Avengers is a team of heroes with their special superpowers that they use in fighting against the evil forces and the supervillain, Thanos.

Besides them, the audience has also praised films made on Deadpool and Wolverine (in X-Men and as solo).

Beyond films, the animated shows and TV series on OTT platforms have gained mass popularity among kids and adults. Some examples include Flash from DC and Daredevil from Marvel. 

Now let's have a quick overview of 

Best-Performing Marvel Movies (Worldwide Gross)

• Avengers: Endgame: $2.79 billion
   
• Avengers: Infinity War: $2 billion
   
• Spider-Man: No Way Home: $1.9 billion
   
• Black Panther: $1.3 billion
   
• The Avengers: $1.5 billion

Best-Performing DC Movies (Worldwide Gross)

• Aquaman (2018): ~$1.15 Billion 
   
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012): ~$1.3 Billion 
   
• The Dark Knight (2008): ~$1.3 Billion 
   
• Joker (2019): ~$1.1 Billion 
   
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016): ~$874 Million
   
• Wonder Woman (2017): ~$824 Million
   
• Suicide Squad (2016): ~$749 Million
   
• Man of Steel (2013): ~$670 Million 

Marketing

Even though both DC and Marvel have earned millions from the sale of their comics, Marvel has gained the upper hand over its competitor in releasing more engaging content in recent years.

From comics to action figures, everything is on demand at the toy stores.  The popular comic event, Delhi Comic Con, receives a welcome from a huge crowd.

In terms of movie success, Marvel again wins over DC in terms of consistency in bringing the series of their character films, including Spider-Man, Black Panther, and The Avengers.

Their films do not need a special mention, as they are known to all Marvel fans. Even on a small screen, there are shows on both Marvel and DC characters.

These include Moon Knight, The Peacemaker, Loki, Arrow, and The Flash. In terms of brand power, where DC has excelled in strong merchandise for its two very famous characters, Superman and Batman, the MCU gained overall sales with the broad appeal of all its characters.

• The two major upcoming Marvel films are Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday.
• Whereas in DC, the upcoming projects are Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and another based on a famous Batman villain, Clayface.

Final Verdict

Indeed, Marvel outshines DC in terms of its branding, consistency, and marketing; still, we cannot say that it will result in a massive drop in DC fans. The competition between the two is indeed very tough, but that does not bother fans of both franchises.

DC, however, needs to work on the areas where it is lapsing. It needs to boost its other characters like Marvel does. 

Overall, both comic universes are best with their iconic characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Peacemaker, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Wolverine, and Deadpool. 

Leaving the question to you, are you a Marvel or DC fan?